Interview : Nara Rohit – Aatagallu is a game between two intellectual minds

Published on Aug 21, 2018 4:05 pm IST

Nara Rohit-Jagapathi Babu’s multi-starrer, Aatagallu, is gearing up for release next Friday. On this occasion, we had a brief chat session with Rohit. Here is the transcript.

Q) How did this film materialize?

A) When director Paruchuri Murali narrated me a script, I liked it very much in a single sitting. But since I was looking for a film with commercial elements, I asked him to come up with some other story. A few days later, he again met me and convinced me to accept this film as he felt that it will be apt to my body language and image. So that’s how Aatagallu took off.

Q) Looks like Jagapathi Babu is playing an equally prominent role along with you. Tell us about it?

A) Actually, while narrating the story, my director did not reveal that JB sir is doing the lawyer’s role. When I met JB somewhere at an event, he told me that Murali had narrated the script to him. Working with him was extremely comfortable. After doing the film, I felt that he is the only person who could pull off such an intense role with ease.

Q) Did Balakrishnudu’s box-office result changed your mindset and made you stick to your regular style of films?

A) Definitely, the film’s result was a big disappointment. But after doing that film, I felt that for a commercial film, everything should fall into place at the right moment. But at the end of the day, the amount of hard work we put in for every film is the same and I’m still open to doing a proper commercial film in future.

Q) Are you satisfied with the end result of your films which are made in different genres?

A) To be frank, my answer is no. I’m getting a good appreciation for every film which I tried in my style, but they are not working out commercially. So I have decided not to experiment with too many new genres, but to balance them with required commercial elements.

Q) Coming back to Aatagallu, what is the film all about?

A) I play a film director and JB will be seen as a criminal lawyer. Basically, it’s l two intellectual minds playing the game. What is the conflict point and how we both manage to deal the issue is narrated with a racy and engaging screenplay.

Q) Tell us about your director Paruchari Murali?

A) He is already a proven director. The way he narrated the script will be in a different format from his previous films. Hope audiences will also feel the same after watching the film.

Q) Next projects?

A) Veera Bhoga Vasantha Rayalu is ready for release. I’m playing an interesting role in it. Apart from it, I signed a film called Shabdam and yet another film with my Banam director Chaitanya Dantuluri.